No plan yet for former site of Miller Building

Downtown Kirksville is likely to see a bit more green space - at least temporarily - as demolition work nears an end on land where the Miller Building previously stood.

Local realtor Ken Read, who purchased the vacant office and apartment building and had it demolished in early September, said Wednesday that barring a sudden development with future building plans the lot will be filled with dirt and grass seeds will be spread in the coming weeks.

Read said many different parties have expressed interest in the space, but he is awaiting return of a Truman State student survey before moving forward with any development. He said the survey asked students what specifically they wanted to see added to the downtown.

Read has the property listed through Heritage House, though he isn't necessarily committed to only selling the property. He said those steps would be determined after the survey results are compiled.

"Then we're going to find people, or myself, to put that together," he said of future developments. "I'll build and lease space or if someone else wants to build and own a piece of that land, they could possibly purchase that."

He also hired two Truman students to create renderings of what different kinds of buildings or businesses would look like on the corner of Franklin and Jefferson streets.

Read said contrary to popular opinion, he has never had, nor does he have now, any plans for the property.

"There is no plan," he said. "What you see is what you get."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.